SUV have become sizzling, with nearly every luxury designer in this fast-growing segment now playing.
One of the deadliest class rivalries between the Audi Q3 and BMW X1—and it only escalated. The all-new 2019 Audi Q3 is eventually replacing the first-generation version, which was introduced back in 2011. Since 2009, BMW’s X1 has been around, but its second generation dropped in 2016 and got some upgrades for 2020, including a new look and improved interior. So, is the more convincing SUV now being recast by Audi Q3?
What’s the rivalry like?
Audi has made the new 2019 Q3 bigger in order to compete better with the more successful BMW X1. This grew 3.8 inches longer, almost one inch wider, and 1.5 inches higher. Now it’s about an inch longer and wider than the BMW, which shares much of its frame with the Mini Countryman. Audi’s wheelbase has also been expanded from 102.5 inches to 105.5 inches. This made the front and rear axles of the car 0.2-inch longer than the BMW. Also the bigger Audi is the heavier of the two, outweighing the BMW of 3724 pounds by around 200 pounds.
Such two crossovers cost about the same amount as well. Each one has a base price of about $36,000, but the regular all-wheel drive comes with every Q3. The X1 sDrive28i base is front-wheel drive, whereas the xDrive28i all-wheel drive costs two more. Slather on the colors, and this 2020 BMW X1 xDrive28i, fitted with the $5000 Premium package and a few other accessories, has a $45,520 sticker price.That’s just $530 more than the Audi Q3 S Line 45 TFSI Quattro loaded up for 2019. Yeah, they have something else in common. Their name badges are no longer linked to what’s under their hoods.
The SUV in action
Although on paper, both SUV engines tend to be the same. However, the BMW’s 2.0-liter is much sportier compared to the Audi. This revs higher, the whole way up to 7000 rpm. If you notice, this sounds better than the engine of the Audi. This is also smoother and more elegant as many prefer the automatic eight-speed X1. It’s not just more responsive than the Audi, it’s changing gears faster and more accurately. Sadly, the X1 doesn’t have paddle shifters like the Q3, which, given its quality, seems like an omission. For instance, the Q3 powertrain is pleasing, but BMW’s are calibrated to a higher level of excellence.
The lighter BMW also leaves the Audi in dust in a drag race. It sprints at 60 mph in 5.7 seconds, quicker than the Audi in more than 1.5 seconds. It also flies at 96 mph in 14.4 seconds through the quarter mile. The Audi’s 15.6-second output at 91 mph, by contrast, feels a bit sluggish. The gap between the two is over three seconds by 100 mph. Its EPA scores of 23 mpg city and 31 mph highway over the Audi’s 19 mpg city. This indicates that the BMW still gets significantly better gas mileage given the extra thrust.
The SUV’s Interior View
You want the Audi if you want more space. Despite slightly more elbow room up front and a much larger rear seat, it feels bigger inside. The back seat of the BMW on the legroom is short. Passengers over six feet tall will find their shins squeezed against the back of their front seat. It’s small for three as well, and it causes your mates to sit upright uncomfortably. The rear seat of the Audi is not cramped. Besides that, the rear bench is more padded and reclines, making it more comfortable.
Nevertheless, it is the BMW which provides more cargo space, with 27.1 cubic feet as under the trunk floor of the X1 there is a lot of extra storage. That’s because it’s loaded with run-flat tires, so there’s no spare tire on board as in Q3. Furthermore, the BMW’s interior looks more luxurious from the driver’s seat than the Audi’s.
The fluidity and energy of its controls is a slightly higher quality than the parts of the Audi, and the X1 has less hard plastic. Less traditional is the overall interior design of the BMW. In no way is it old-fashioned, but the interior design of the Audi is extremely modern, with a more obvious influence on Silicon Valley. A nice touch is the suede trim on its dash and windows. More rugged bolsters are featured in its available S Line sport seats as it also offers more storage indoors with a bigger console and gate bins.
Conclusion
Making the decision to buy a new vehicle is a big deal. Hence, before making your final decision, you should be prepared to do your homework. You’re likely to compare fuel mileage scores and studies of what cars do best in a simulator crash test. Although ratings for crash tests provide useful insights, they may be inaccurate at times. Researching before buying a vehicle is just one way you can help reduce the chance of getting hurt or met in an accident while in your vehicle. Yet accidents do occur even with the best precautions and planning. It is therefore important to have coverage in case you or a loved one gets hurt in a head-on collision with a car and a SUV.
